The striker will never forget the chilling experience in Cabinda, Togo, at the beginning of last month, which brought a traumatic conclusion to what was supposed to be one of the most exciting experiences of Adebayor's life. And, after dedicating his opener in Sunday's 2-0 win over Portsmouth to the friends he lost, Adebayor admitted he feared his own life was about to come to a brutal end. "At one point I didn't think I would ever see City's stadium and the fans again," he told the club's official website. "I have been through a difficult moment in my life. I am glad that these terrible moments are behind me." City remained in regular contact with Adebayor once the full scale of the horror became known. Despite his importance to the Blues squad, manager Roberto Mancini refused to exert any pressure on the former Arsenal man to return to Manchester. Even when Adebayor returned to City's Carrington training complex he trained for nearly a week before being named as a substitute for the Carling Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. The 25-year-old might not have been able to do anything to alter the course of that tie but, latching onto Stephen Ireland's lofted pass, Adebayor had found his range by yesterday and proved it by smashing home his first goal in nearly two months. "It is good to be home and back on the football pitch," said the 25-year-old. "Through all the difficulties the fans were there with me, calling my name and sending me messages of support. I was very moved by that. "The club did everything they could for me too. They checked I was okay and gave me time before coming back. "The most important things are the relationship between the players and the club and the players and the fans. Here, I feel I have a good relationship with both. "The people who work at City and watch City have faith in my ability and faith in what I am doing." Whilst understandably concerned for Adebayor, Mancini also knows how important victory was on Sunday as the battle for fourth intensifies. The result leaves City in the thick of a four-cornered battle for that prized Champions League qualifying berth, knowing they crucially have two games in hand. One of those fixtures is at Stoke on February 16, part of a three-match run-in to a stretch of games involving Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham that Mancini believes will shape City's season. "We have three games coming up and afterwards it is Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham. That will be a crucial time," said Mancini. "We are in a good position now because we have two games in hand but we will have to fight until the end of the season." Mancini does have a major injury concern over Vincent Kompany, who limped out of yesterday's encounter with a groin injury and could be set for an extended spell on the sidelines. Pablo Zabaleta broke his nose after clashing with Danny Webber but City are optimistic the Argentina star will be available fairly soon.
